I didnt get to watch a second of the game tonight ( On my way to Vegas) but I saw that Dats was the first star with 0 pts, 0 shots, and +/- 0. It doesn't surprise me but can someone explain to me how good he was out there tonight

Babcock could use this game to send a message. put z, ericsson, and anyone else who has been along for the ride this season on the bench. my guess is he does nothing but stare

Yea because that is exactly how this team has operated during the last 20 years of playoff performances, stanley cups, presidents trophies..etc.... Lets start alienating guys. Good plan. We are 1st overall at the break (some teams have games in hand). Is there some place we would rather be then 1st? I'm confused.

He's going to score 15-20 goals playing on the 3rd line essentially the whole year and he's worthless? The contract may be a little inflated but what do you expect for production out of a 3rd line guy? Add the fact that he's dependable and a good teammate and I'm pretty sure that he's not getting traded.

Cheap shot in my opinion. Doesn't look like Salo is even looking to throw a big hit, much less a dirty one.

This is why discipline has to come from the league. You can't just assume someone is going to throw a dirty hit, and use that assumption to justify a dirty preemptive strike. Vigilante justice never works, and only causes more injuries and injuries to innocent people.

Marchand absolutely should be suspended. If I remember correctly, he has a history of going for the knees too. 2-5 games I'd say, depending on his repeat status.

Why doesn't Marchand take a page out of Datsyuk's book and just match Salo shoulder for shoulder to gain an advantage? I've seen Dats do it a million times against bigger or smaller guys. It's a clean and effective way of gaining position on a similar play. I don't want hitting out of the game but hits like this are a joke, its contact made below the waist with an attempt to send a guy landing on his head.

No reason to play him unless it's on the top 2 lines, with skilled teammates.

With his size, it'll be pointless playing him on the 3rd and 4th lines. You can only have so many undersized forwards trying to be checkers. Helm, Hudler and now possibly Conner.

Huh? If you work your ass of every shift I don't think it really matters how big you are. Being a good checker doesn't mean you have to send guys through the boards every shift. I think Helm and Datsyuk are prime examples of that. Smaller guys who are always positioned well and work their ass off. Helm stripping the puck from a guy is just as effective as him attempting to plaster a guy through the boards.

So not even 2 periods into the second game of the season and Babcock is already changing up the lines. I realize that the lines didn't look too good in the first period, but how the hell does he expect any chemistry to be built up between players when he doesn't even keep them together for two games?

Haha, you haven't watched the Babcock coached Wings very much I take it.